8:30 LRN Newscast

St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape says he’s received death threats after it was revealed by an investigative reporter that Tape was accused but never tried on child sexual abuse charges in New Mexico. A recall effort is expected to remove him from office. At a press conference Monday, Tape talked about his first day as coroner.
Cut 4 (08) “…death threat.”
Tape says he’s not planning on resigning and as far as his child sexual assault accusations, he says it’s innocent until proven guilty.

A bill to allow judges to sentence certain sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C today. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says sex offenders who prey on children are usually repeat offenders.
Cut 7 (09) “…men and women.”
Barrow has filed similar legislation in the past.

An effort to give voters the opportunity to decide if abortion should be legal in Louisiana is dead for the legislative session. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman’s proposed constitutional amendment that would put the issue to a vote was defeated in a House committee. Freeman says a recent LSU poll shows a majority of residents believe women should have a choice, but Washington Parish Republican John Wyble says he’s not seeing any support for Freeman’s proposal…
cut 12 (13) “…falls on it”

Louisiana is ranked as the most stressed out state according to a new report from Wallethub-dot-com. The Bayou State receives the top ranking because of its high crime and divorce rate, also the state has the second highest percentage of population living in poverty. Wallet hub analyst Cassie Happe says if you’re having money problems…
cut 15 (12) “…your bills”

7:30 LRN Newscast

A state Senate committee is set to hear a bill today that would give judges the ability to sentence a person to surgical castration if they commit a sex offense against a child under the age of 13. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says the opponents will say castration is inhumane, but her response is….
cut 8 (10) “….period”
The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Judiciary C.

It was an interesting first day on the job for St. Tammany Parish coroner Christopher Tape. Tape says a suspicious package was found in a closet around two A-M at his office…
cut 6 (11) “….last night”
Local officials want Tape to be recalled because he was indicted more than 20 years ago on child sexual abuse charges. The case against Tape was never brought to court. Tape says he’s not resigning.

A new study by WalletHub.com names the Bayou State as the most stressed-out state in the country. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

New Orleans resident Kelsey Anderson has found love on the popular reality show The Bachelor. Anderson received the final rose from the Bachelor Joey Graziadei on the season finale last night. Andersen is a project manager and Graziadei is a tennis pro who plans to move to New Orleans.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

After losing a series to Florida, the LSU Tigers return to the baseball diamond tonight to host Southeastern Louisiana. The Tigers dropped three spots in the latest D-1 baseball poll to number eight losing in extra innings on Saturday night to the Gators and then getting run-ruled on Sunday. Southeastern Louisiana has won eight of its last nine and nearly beat the Tigers in Hammond earlier this year. First pitch is at 6:30 at Alex Box Stadium.

Also tonight, the Ragin Cajuns have won seven straight and will host Grambling. The Tigers have won six in a row and are one of three teams in the SWAC undefeated in league play. First pitch is at 6 PM.

Louisiana Tech has won four straight and they visit ULM. Bulldogs outfielder Cole McConnell was named Conference USA Hitter of the Week for a second time this season. McConnell hit four home runs in the sweep over Jacksonville State this past weekend.

Big game tonight for the Pelicans. New Orleans who is trying to lock down the fourth spot in the Western Conference Standings hosts Oklahoma City. The Thunder are 49-21 and in second place in the West and New Orleans is 44-27. The Pelicans have won eight of their last ten.

The Lady Tigers will play UCLA in the Sweet 16 round as the Bruins defeated Creighton 67-63. Top seeded Iowa also advanced.

ULM defeated Grambling 102 to 76 in the WNIT. First postseason win for the Warhawks in 39 years.

At LSU spring practice, Coach Brian Kelly says they are working on the running game…
cut 16 (18) “…to have”

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is leaving the WAC for the Southland and will become a full-time member this July.

6:30 LRN Newscast

A House committee has voted down a proposal to give Louisiana residents the ability to vote on whether abortion should be legal. A nine-year-old boy from Lafayette testified against the measure. Hopkins Inzina says his grandmother was a teenager when she was pregnant with his mom and could have decided on an abortion…
Cut 10 (14) “…including me.”
Louisiana has one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation.

According to Wallet-hub-dot-com, Louisiana ranks number one in its study for most stressed state in the country. Wallet-hub-’s Cassie Happe says Louisiana’s stress levels are up because of the high crime and divorce rate and the state ranks second in median credit score…
cut 14 (12) “….their credit”
Embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner, Christopher Tape, who was accused of child sexual assault, but never tried on a technicality in New Mexico, says he was greeted with a suspicious package on his first day. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (25) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

AM LRN Newscall March 26

Embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner, Christopher Tape, who was accused of child sexual assault, but never tried on a technicality in New Mexico, says he was greeted with a suspicious package on his first day.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (25) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________________________

The House Civil Law Committee has voted against a proposal to give residents a chance to vote on whether abortion should be legal in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (36)  “I’m Colleen Crain” 

____________________________________________

It’s Stress Awareness Month and a new study by WalletHub.com names the Bayou State as the most stressed-out state in the country this year. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

____________________________________________

St. Tammany Parish Coroner Christopher Tape says he’s received death threats after it was revealed by an investigative reporter that Tape was accused but never tried for child sexual abuse in New Mexico. Parish leaders have started a recall campaign to remove him. At a press conference Monday, he talked about his first day as coroner.

Cut 4 (08) “…death threat.”

Tape is also under fire for cutting the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program in the parish that also serves, four other parishes (Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington).

Top elected officials in St. Tammany Parish have begun a recall campaign to remove Tate, and the new coroner clapped back.

Cut 5 (04) “…proven guilty.” 

Tate also accused his predecessor, Dr. Charles Preston, of a smear campaign against him along with planting listening devices in the office and the suspicious package.

Cut 6 (11) “…last night.”

Tape, who was unopposed in the election, has refused requests to resign and the only way he can be removed from office is a successful recall campaign.

__________________________________________

A bill to allow judges to sentence sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C today. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says when a child is involved the offender is usually someone they know and a repeat offender.

 Cut 7 (09) “…men and women.”

The last time she filed the bill she says there was large opposition claiming castration is inhumane, but she says when the victim is a child…

Cut 8 (10) “…period.” 

Barrow says the more she’s learned about the lifelong impact sexual assault has on children she’s grown more adamant about her bill.

Cut 9 (12)  “…of doing.”

She says the state would be responsible for surgical costs.

________________________________________________________

A House committee has voted down a proposal to give Louisiana residents the ability to vote on whether abortion should be legal. A nine-year-old boy from Lafayette came to the state capitol to testify against the measure. Hopkins Inzina says his grandmother was a teenager when she was pregnant with his mom and could have decided on an abortion…

Cut 10 (14) “…including me.”

Louisiana has one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation as a result of a constitutional amendment in 2020. But New Orleans Democrat Aimee Freeman says a recent LSU poll shows 52-percent of Louisiana voters believe abortion should be legal…

Cut 11 (08) “…families”

But Washington Parish Republican John Wyble says he’s not finding any support for Freeman’s proposal…

Cut 12 (13) “…falls on it.” 

_____________________________________________________________

Louisianans are stressed out according to a new study. Personal finance website Wallethub.com has ranked the Bayou State number one among the most stressed states. Analyst Cassie Happe says the survey compares several factors like work, health, and crime-related stress among the 50 states.

Cut 13 (10)  “…particular categories.”

Louisiana ranks fourth worst in hours worked, fifth in the percentage of adults in poor health, second in people living in poverty, and ninth in job security. Happe says Louisianans have the second lowest median credit scores which also contribute to stress levels.

Cut 14 (12)  “…their credit.”

Compounding the issue for Louisianans dealing with stress is the tremendous lack of sleep and high divorce rates. Happe suggests participating in activities that are not cost-related to relieve stress. And when it comes to money problems…

Cut 15 (12)  “…your bills.”

Mississippi also topped the list as the second most stressed state followed by Nevada, New Mexico, and Arkansas.

______________________________________________

 

Cut 16 (24)  “…team today.” 

 

Cut 17 (17) “…answer the bell.” 

________________________________________________________________________

 

Cut 18 (18)  “…I need” 

 

Cut 19 (17) “…third and fourth quarter”  

 

.Cut 20 (20) “…everybody in Albany”

 

 

 

 

5:30 LRN Newscast March 25

The House Civil Law Committee has voted against a proposal to give residents a chance to vote on whether abortion should be legal in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has the story…

Cut 2 (36)  “I’m Colleen Crain” 

A bill to allow judges to sentence sex offenders whose victims are younger than 13, to surgical castration will be heard in Senate Judiciary C Tuesday. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow, author of the bill believes sexual assault has a lifelong impact on children. She says the state would be responsible for surgical costs.

Legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an inspection sticker on their vehicle passes the House Transportation Committee. State Police Captain Bryan Lee says State Troopers and police officers can’t tell if a vehicle’s tires are worn, which is something that can be spotted during a vehicle inspection. He says bald tires are a safety threat…

Cut 10 (07) “…bad tires. “

The elimination of inspection vehicles would cost State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles 14-million dollars a year.  Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says there are several inspection stations that do not take it seriously, so why require it…

Cut 11 (09) “…they’re not.”

The measure will now head to House Appropriations for more discussion.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

The LSU women’s basketball team is headed to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year after beating Middle Tennessee 83-56. The Lady Tigers fell behind by nine early in the third quarter but finished the game by outscoring the Lady Raiders 51-15. Angel Reese stepped up her game in the second half after Coach Kim Mulkey told the All-American that she needed her…
Cut 18 (18) “…I need”

A Washington Post article on LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey could be published this week. Mulkey says the same reporter previously did a hit job on football coach Brian Kelly and he’s spent the last two years trying to dig up dirt on her…
Cut 13 (11) “…positive stories”
Mulkey is promising a defamation lawsuit if the story contains any lies about here.

For the second straight weekend, LSU baseball dropped an SEC series and for the second straight Sunday, the Tigers were run-ruled. Florida beat the Tigers 12-2 in eight innings yesterday. Coach Jay Johnson was ejected in the fifth inning after both teams were warned about trash talking and Johnson came out of the dugout to complain that Florida’s pitcher said something to Hayden Travinski. The ejection didn’t fire up the team…
Cut 16 (24) “…team today.”

While LSU baseball is struggling, the Ragin Cajuns have won seven in a row after sweeping Old Dominion. Louisiana Tech has won four straight after sweeping Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs host ULM tomorrow afternoon. The Warhawks dropped a series at Georgia State this past weekend.

4:30 PM Newscast March 25

Most of Western and Northern Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 8 PM meaning conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado. the National Weather service recommendations say: review your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room and be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. The watch extends from East Texas through 29 parishes and into Central Mississippi and Southern Arkansas.

A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who officially took office today after it was revealed he was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says there will be a gathering at the state capitol this afternoon.

Cut 6  (09) “…that office.” 

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an up to date inspection sticker on their vehicle. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says getting the sticker is an inconvenience, an unnecessary expense and does nothing to keep our roads safer…

Cut 9 (09) “…into a fine.” 

One state lawmaker said the fine for an expired inspection sticker can be as much as 250-dollars.

Democrat Henry Whitehorn, who won by a single vote margin in November, has been elected as Caddo Parish first African American Sheriff. Political Analyst Scott Hughes points out the unity and commitment from Democrats and the African American community to place Whitehorn into leadership.

Cut 4 (10) “…128 boxes.” 

Whitehorn will be sworn in this summer.

3:30 PM Newscast March 25

A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who took office today. Tape was accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s 7-year-old daughter in New Mexico but was never tried due to a technicality. After Dr. Chuck Preston retired, Tate ran unopposed before the charges came to light. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says if the recall effort is successful in removing Tape from office there will be a thorough vetting process for his replacement.

Cut 8 (07) “…is shocking.” 

Two deaths in Delhi are being called mysterious and Louisiana State Police have opened investigations after bodies were discovered on Park Street and Charter Street over the weekend. Authorities are awaiting autopsy reports.

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to eliminate the need for drivers to have a vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

 

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. LSU trailed by nine points early in the second half before they got it going. Coach Kim Mulkey was asked if an anticipated Washington Post story on her distracted the team

Cut 12 (05) “…absolutely not” 

LRN PM Newscall March 25

Now that the embattled St. Tammany Parish Coroner has been sworn-in there’s a recall effort to remove him. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to eliminate the need for drivers to have a vehicle inspection sticker. Jeff Palermo has the story….

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

______________________________________

Democrat Henry Whitehorn has made history by becoming the first black man elected as Caddo Parish Sheriff after a closely contested second runoff election. The former head of State Police secured 53 percent of the vote on Saturday, after winning by one vote over Republican opponent John Nickelson in November. Political Analyst Scott Hughes…

Cut 3 (11) “…vote margin.”  

Whitehorn received 34-thousand votes and Nickelson received 30-thousand votes in the second run-off election.

Hughes says the Caddo Parish election, which captured statewide attention drew high numbers of voter turnout to the polls. He points out the unity and commitment from Democrats and the African American community to place Whitehorn into leadership.

Cut 4 (10) “…128 boxes.” 

A second run-off election was needed after Nickelson got the courts to agree there were several questionable votes. Hughes says Whitehorn’s victory marks a significant milestone in the Caddo Parish community.

Cut 5 (11)  “…Caddo Parish.”

Whitehorn will be sworn in on July 1st.

_____________________________________________________________

A recall effort is underway to remove St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape, who officially took office today after it was revealed he was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in New Mexico but was never tried on a technicality. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says there will be a gathering at the state capitol this afternoon.

Cut 6  (09) “…that office.” 

Tape notified nurses who administer the sexual assault nurse program Thursday night their jobs were to be eliminated as of today. Mizell says eliminating the vital program impacts not just St. Tammany, but Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes also.

Cut 7 (07) “…nurse program.”  

If the recall effort is successful in removing Tape from office Mizell says there will be a thorough vetting process for his replacement.

Cut 8 (07) “…is shocking.” 

Tape was accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s 7-year-old daughter. He ran unopposed to replace Dr. Chuck Preston who retired.

___________________________________________

The House Transportation Committee approves legislation to do away with the requirement for Louisiana drivers to have an up to date inspection sticker on their vehicle. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says getting the sticker is an inconvenience, an unnecessary expense and does nothing to keep our roads safer…

Cut 9 (09) “…into a fine.” 

One state lawmaker said the fine for an expired inspection sticker can be as much as 250-dollars.

Bagley says vehicles are built better and law enforcement officers can pull over a vehicle they believe is not safe. State Police Captain Bryan Lee says State Troopers and police officers can’t tell if a vehicle’s tires are worn, which is something that can be spotted during a vehicle inspection. He says bald tires are a safety threat… 

Cut 10 (07) “…bad tires. “

The elimination of inspection vehicles would cost State Police and the Office of Motor Vehicles 14-million dollars a year. The measure will now head to House Appropriations for more discussion. Hornbeck Representative Rodney Schamerhorn says there are several inspection stations that do not take it seriously, so why require it…

Cut 11 (09) “…they’re not.”

If Bagley’s bill becomes law, motorists who live in East Baton Rouge and four surrounding parishes would still need to get an emissions test, because of high ozone levels in the Capital City Region.

____________________________________________________________

The LSU Lady Tigers are heading to the Sweet 16 after beating Middle Tennessee 83 to 56. LSU trailed by nine points early in the second half before they got it going. Coach Kim Mulkey was asked if an anticipated Washington Post story on her distracted the team

Cut 12 (05) “…absolutely not” 

A Washington Post article on Mulkey could possibly come out this week. Mulkey says the same reporter previously did a hit job on football coach Brian Kelly and he’s spent the last two years trying to dig up dirt on her…

Cut 13 (11) “…positive stories”   

Mulkey has refused to talk with this reporter, believed to be Kent Babb. The hall of fame coach claims the reporter has not been transparent in his intentions and she says it’s this type of journalism on why the public no longer trusts the media. Mulkey also promises to fight back…

Cut  14 (10) “…about me”